Clearly Canadian is back!... well sorta (crowdfunding)

[Regular_John]

So everyone remember the clear beverage craze of the 90's? And our home grown sugar water Clearly Canadian? Well they are attempting a "fan lead revival!" (see: crowdfunding) by offer pre-orders of the stuff for $35/case.

Just reading through their faqs doesn't really have me convinced they've got a strong business case for coming back... but hey if enough people are willing to "invest" in this than good for them.

What risk is there in purchasing? What challenges does Clearly Canadian face?

....
-Our number one risk, given its our largest "Cost of Goods", being heavy, bulky and breakable, is our famous, custom colour, tear-drop, ice-blue, screen printed, glass bottles that we all love and adore. These bottles were always expensive. There is a reason why the majority of beverages today are found in less than ideal PET plastic — because it’s CHEAP! Notice you don't see many using glass, let alone screen-printing anymore, besides maybe Coca-Cola (we love you Coca-Cola J) on their signature bottles. We are bringing back the ORIGINAL Clearly Canadian screen-printed glass bottles in their ORIGINAL yummy non-GMO formulations with good old-fashioned cane sugar. Our bottles take 3 to 4 months to produce. There are only 3 glass bottle manufactures in the world that can make our bottles to the high-standards we require. All of them are on standby to ramp up production. Once we have the ability to place our glass orders, it's full steam ahead. After receiving bottles in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver, everything else is easy to get done. We have our bottle cap manufacturers and co-packers ready, and direct ship capability to those who support us here. To keep it all sustainable and ongoing we have established beverage distributors and retail clients across North America ready to place new orders on top of yours - literally.
-We are a small team of 7, we have millions to serve and only 14 hands between us - it's time to ramp-up…if we could employ Hario! (our mascot office Bichon) we would! CLEARLY NEEDS YOU, HER FANS TO MAKE THE FINAL STEP!

Something about their copywriting on the site rubs me the wrong way, like they've got an intern writing it for them "ORIGINAL yummy non-GMO formulations" and they've run out of options with private funding. So now they're attempting to pre-sell it all.

Eh anyways, if you were a fan of the stuff back in the day and are interested in securing some more.

[KelVarnsen]

Meh, call when they bring back Crystal Pepsi.

[DownhillGoat]

Why not bring it back but forget the bottles? Loved the drink, could care less if they kept it 'original'. It's not like it had that big branding.

[Hack&Lube]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Why not bring it back but forget the bottles? Loved the drink, could care less if they kept it 'original'. It's not like it had that big branding.

It's clear sugar water with generic fruit flavorings. There's basically nothing unique or desirable there aside from the classic bottles and nostalgia. The bluish glass bottle and font are what makes the drink what it is.

[Daradon]

Well I would agree it was fairly unique in the 90's. Back then I remember liking two different sparkling beverage brands. This, and Koala Springs. But there wasn't a lot of stuff like that.

I will say now that the carbonated drink landscape has changed dramatically and I'm not sure there is a place for it anymore. There are already choices like this. I guess the big question is, how can they expect it to survive now if they couldn't keep it afloat before?

[WhiteTiger]

Well, they have a mild point in that the only reason I remember this particular bit of sugar water is due to the bottles...but I still wouldn't buy it if it came back, I'd just remember it again.

[ken0042]

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it low in calories without using artifical sweeteners? That would be worth it for me; I know from making my own lemonade and iced tea that you only need 1/3 the sugar to make a tasty drink. I just hate having to go through the process of making it myself.

[OutOfTheCube]

Psh, call me when they bring back Orbitz, then we'll talk

[Rathji]

Orbitz.

For when you just can't get enough chunky liquids down your throat the old fashioned way.

[Wormius]

Clearly Canadian had some unique flavours at the time, but they'd be competing with a lot of established products now.

If I wanted something unique there are other alternatives flavour-wise. I actually liked some of the ones from Sunterra - forget the brand name - but had really interesting and tasty flavours like cucumber, juniper, rhubarb, vanilla, etc. And if you want something in a cool bottle, there is always Orangina.

Anyway, the ones I miss are the New York Seltzers in the stubby bottle with their little styrofoam sleeve.

[Wormius]

Originally Posted by ken0042

Somebody correct me if I'm wrong, but wasn't it low in calories without using artifical sweeteners? That would be worth it for me; I know from making my own lemonade and iced tea that you only need 1/3 the sugar to make a tasty drink. I just hate having to go through the process of making it myself.

I am not sure what would go into homemade iced tea, but lemonade is a pretty simple procedure with 3 ingredients. I guess it just depends on whether you make a simple syrup first or just mix everything together.

[JonDuke]

Pfft....call me when Bawls comes to Canada

[DownhillGoat]

Originally Posted by JonDuke

Pfft....call me when Bawls comes to Canada

Memory Express.
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX33031

[ken0042]

Originally Posted by Wormius

I am not sure what would go into homemade iced tea, but lemonade is a pretty simple procedure with 3 ingredients. I guess it just depends on whether you make a simple syrup first or just mix everything together.

You appear to have underestimated my laziness.

[JonDuke]

Originally Posted by kunkstyle

Memory Express.
http://www.memoryexpress.com/Products/MX33031

[blankall]

Originally Posted by OutOfTheCube

Psh, call me when they bring back Orbitz, then we'll talk

Drink at your own risk:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Orbitz-Defy-...item3f2e08d0e4

[Coys1882]

Wasn't there some buzz when Clearly Canadian was clearly seen in a large budget movie or popular TV show?

[Daradon]

Originally Posted by Wormius

Clearly Canadian had some unique flavours at the time, but they'd be competing with a lot of established products now.

If I wanted something unique there are other alternatives flavour-wise. I actually liked some of the ones from Sunterra - forget the brand name - but had really interesting and tasty flavours like cucumber, juniper, rhubarb, vanilla, etc. And if you want something in a cool bottle, there is always Orangina.

Anyway, the ones I miss are the New York Seltzers in the stubby bottle with their little styrofoam sleeve.

Those were good! I think I still have a NYS cooler bag kicking around somewhere.

Orangina is good too. But I just get the 2L bottles. I know what your talking about though.

[Regular_John]

You'd think they'd forgo the glass bottles and try to jump on the "water enhancer" craze that's hot these days. Slap the Clearly Canadian brand on these concentrated syrups, maybe even formulate/market it as a club soda syrup.



Gets around the silly bottles, and might actual get some traction in the market place.